Plywood lifeboat



Feb. 8, 191%n Filed June 1942 L. S. BAIE-:EQ

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Feb. 8, 1944.

L. s. BAIRI 2,341,010 PLYwooD L'IFE BOAT` Filed June 1, 1942 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Feb. 8, 1944 UNITED y STATES PATENT FFICE `rLYwooD LIFEBoAT Ludwig S. Baier, Portland, Oreg. Application June 1, 1942, serial No. 445,327V

Y 6 claims.

My invention, which relatesto the art of boat building, has particular reference to life boats.

Primarily, the invention has for its object to provide a light-weight, strong and relatively inexpensive-to-build life boat to carry a maximum number of persons.

. Again, it is an object to provide a life boat employing a minimum amount of metal in its hull construction.

A further object is to provide a life boat the shell of which is composed of layers of plywood so constructedthat ordinary calking is not required.

. Other objects' will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To vthe attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends the invention still further resides in the novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described in the following detailed description, and then be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B, when joined on the lines A B, comprise a top plan view of one-half of a life boat of my present invention.

Figs. 2A and 2B, when joined on the lines C D, comprise a longitudinal section at approximately mid-ship of a life boat of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section, taken at about mid-ship.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a section'on approximately the line 5 5 of Fig. 3. y

Fig. 6 is a top plan and part horizontal section of the forward half of a life boat, showing a modification of my invention.

Fig. 7 is a central vertical section of the same.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail cross section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the disengaging mechanisms used inthe rst embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail section showing how the grab rods are secured.

In the drawings, in which like numerals and letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, I is the stem iron which comprises a body having flanges 2 and which extends from the sheer to the keel. The stem iron has its flanges widened adjacent its upper end as at 3 for a purpose presently understood.

A pair of spaced metal plates 4 are welded, as at w, to the stem iron I. A pin 46 passes through these plates4 and through` the shell and though tapered form in cross section (see Fig. 5).

the widened portions 3 of the stem iron, the pin being riveted over at its ends. Spacer pipesA 45 are located on the pin between. the plates 4 and the portions 3. The spacers 45 also serve as braces for the plates4.

Pivoted on the pin 46 isthe hook 53 that holdsv the boat-lowering tackle link`5'l while lowering the boat from .the deck of a ship, of which more will be said later.

The stern post 5, like the stem iron I, is made of metal with anges 6 andn widened portions-'1. Spaced plates 3 are also welded at w to the stern post 5, there being a pin 46 and spacers 45 em-` Fig. 9). An eye bolt v4l passes through each pair of plates 4 and carries a spacer 52 between the plates.

A pulley 5I is mounted on each eye bolt, over whichpulley the release cable 49 passes and has one of its lends connected to the weighted end of latch or lever 55.

At the stern suitable gudgeons 9 are welded to the stern post 5 for the reception of the gudgeon pins 32 of the rudder 36. The rudder 30 is made of plywood (about 3/A) and is i'ltted with steel straps 3 I.-

The keel I6 of the boat is preferably made fof oak and the keelson IIl is preferably made of r.

The shell I2 of the boat, bottom, side and bilge,

is made of two layers I2a and l2b of water-proof fir plywood. When the strakes are made of more strap for the other. Butts are triple riveted with copper clout nails I5, clinched and staggered.` A water-proof cement is applied to all faying surfaces in addition to the nails and screw fastenings.

Inside seam battens I6 extend the full length of the boat. Outside iillerbattens Il also extend the' full length of the boat and areof wedge or The edges of the shell strakes |211, I2b are correspondingly shaped so that when the battens Il are secured to the battens I6 and frames 2| by bolts I9 and screws I3 a water-tight joint is obtained.

The frames comprise bottom elements 20, side 5 elements 2I knees 22.

A suitably spaced number of thwarts 23 extend across the boat and are supported midway their lengths, where necessary, by braces 44 that rest on the keelson I I. Side seats are constituted by slats 24 secured to the thwarts 23 (Fig. 3) The thwarts 23 are secured at their ends to the side frame members 2l by angle brackets 21 and the gunwale 26`is. suitably braced by braces 25 secured to it and to one ofthe slats 24.

The gunwale is provided with -suitably located row locks 28 and it is also provided with a nosing 29.

The footings 34 are laid on the bottom frames 20 and are removably held in place by toggles 35. A hand-hole 36 is provided in the footings for access to the usual automatic plug (not shown) employed in life boats.

Air tanks 31 of galvanized steel are of elliptical cross section and are secured in place by straps 43,l one end of each of which is secured to a seam batten vI6 and the other end of which is secured to one of the seat slats 24 (Fig. 3). Y

vGrab rods 38 are mounted b y means o stanchions 31 secured to nller battens I1 (Fig. 3).

Painter rings 40 in staples 4I are provided fore and ait, the staples having their pads welded to the stem iron I and stern post or iron 5, respectively.

Life lines, indicated by dot and dash lines 42 in Figs 1A-113, with seine iloats are secured to the boat.

"Dsengaging cables, indicated by dotted lines 49 in Figs. 2A-2B, pass through guides 48; at the aft end of the boat the fore and aft cables 49 are connected to a pull member 50. By pulling on member I) the tiller man can release the fore and aft hooks 53 to free the boat from the launching tackle. It will be seen by reference to Figs. 2A and 2B that the releasing gear is rigidly mounted directly on the stem and stern irons. Thus the weight of the boat as it hangs from the suspending tackle, including the load, is carried by the stem and stern irons, which stem and stern irons actually serve as two hooks that cradle the load, extending to the ends of the keel. The tiller is indicated at 33 in Fig. 2A.

58 designates foot rests for the oarsmen, 59 a mast strap, and 60 a socket into which a mast (not shown) is stepped.

6I designates a steel liner and E2 a steel keelguard at the bow end of the boat. At the stern end of the boata stern plate 63 is welded to the stern post 5 and set into the keel I0 to which it is riveted and bolted at I9.

In the modication of the invention lshown in Figs. 6 and '7, parts similar to those in Figs. 1, and 2 bear the same reference letters plus the index letter m.

Instead of employing metal tanks, water-tight compartments can be formed with yframes 64, bulkheads 65, walls 66 and tops 61.

These compartments may be leftas air chambers or may be lled with kapok.

Having now given a general description of my new and improved life boat embodying .my invention, the following is a brief general rsum of the construction materials, etc., used in building a twenty-two foot boat:

Stem and st61'n.-The stem, sternpost and forefoot shall be constructed of 3 Steel plate and, where necessary, plywood T formed in one piece to extend from the sheer to the keel, drilled on 2" centers, staggered and countersunk for Tse bolts and rivets. The steel shall existing rules. up in two lengths.

be tted to the outside of the shell and shall be shaped, as shown, to take disengaging gear pin. Gudgeons of steel shall be welded to the stern post and skeg. In a motor-propelled boat a steel stern tube shall be welded water-tight to the skeg, babbitted at the aft end and provided with a bronze stuing box with a bronze gland and lock nut. A 1A steel plate skeg shall be welded to the stern post.

Keel and )redsun-The keel shall consist of a nr inner keelson shaped to suit and screw-fastened to the shell; where lapped at the ends over the forefoot it shall be through-bolted with 1A carriage bolts. The oak keel shall be throughbolted at each frame with a carriage bolt and at 12 centers with 1A carriage bolts.

SMIL-The shell, bottom side and bilge shall consist of two layers of 1A" water-proof r plywood. (It is optional to use a single length on the outside strake if possible to obtain the same for boats of this length.) Butts shall be stag-v gered and one course shall form a butt strap for the other. Butts, if used, shall be triple riveted with copper clout nails clinched and staggered and spaced on 2" centers. Additional copper clout nails shall be quilted on l2 centers over the entire hull (see I5, Figs. 2B and 2A). A Waterproof cement shall be applied to all faying surfaces in addition to the nails and screw fastenings.

Seam batteria- A r inside batten shall be in one full length ofY a total cross section area. of 11/2 X31/2 and be shaped as shown. An out- Iside filler batten of the size required and shaped to form a positive lock at the seam shall be screw and bolt fastened.

Frames-All frames shall be of sawed oak or w. p. plywood bolted at the keel and screw fastened to the shell and bracketed at the bilge with plywood. Side frames shall be clipped to the under side of the side seat and be as shown. Bottom frames shall be in one piece except at the ends where they shall be secured to a oor piece of plywood at the keel.

Thwarts and gunwale seat.-Thwarts shall be of B or better fir, and shall be screw and bolt fastened throughout. Gunwale braces of steel shall be bolted to the gunwale and seat to conform to existing rules. Side seats shall be as shown, the out-board strake of fir being sawed to shape and the remaining pieces of 11A" x 1%" r batten sprung in place and bolted.

Nosz'ng and gunwale- The gunwale and nosing shall be of oak, and fastened in accordance with Gunwale and nosing may be made Rowlocks shall be located as required for -oars and emergency steering tiller oar.

Rumen-A rudder of 3A. plywood shall be tted with steel straps and gudgeon pins to conform to regulations and be of the size and shape indicated, and shall be fitted with an oak steering tiller arm. A metal edging of 16 gauge galvanized steel shall be nailed to the rudder, as shown.

Footings.-Footings may either be as shown or in narrow strakes to suit the requirements `of the Department of Commerce. Metal toggles shall be secured to frames as required. A hand-hole for access to the automatic plug shall be provided in the footings as shown.

Air tanks-The air tanks shall be of 22 gauge galvanized steel soldered air-tight and of the size and shape indicated. They shall be supported by galvanized steel straps and made portable. There shall be suicient air tank capacity provided for a rowing or motor-driven boat along the sides without end tanks.

Painting and galvanieing.-All surfaces of the plywood, both inside and out, shall be primed after assembly with lone coat REZ plywood primer, or equal resin primer and then painted two coats of lead and oil paint. All metal and fastenings shall be galvanized after fabrication.

Disengaging apparatus.-A quick-acting double end release gear, las shown, shall be :fitted in the boat and face plates welded to the stem and stern irons and be galvanized after fabrication.

Grab roda-Grab rods of 1 diameter, of oak, ash or equally hard wood, shall be iitted to the under side of the hull for a distance of twothirds the length of the boat. They shall be supported by cast steel galvanized stanchions spaced approximately 20" centers, except in way of chocks, where they shall be omitted. End stanchions shall be blind at one end. A space of 11/2" shall be provided between the inner side of the rod and the outer side of the hull plant.

Moron-In boats of this size using a motor, suitable ir engine timbers, sided 21/2 and molded to suit the hull, shall be through-bolted and fastened to support the motor. Gas tank or tanks of galvanized steel shall be in accordance with existing regulations and secured to permit removal for inspection.

Painter and life Ima-A painter ring shall be secured to the bow and stern by means of welding a staple pad eye to the stem and stern posts. A life line in bights not to exceed 3 0", with a seine float secured to each bi-ght, shall be provided ancl installed. Painter and life line shall be of sizes and capacities as required by existing regulations of the Department of Commerce.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the construction and advantages of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

l. In a plywood-shell life boat having seams and frames to which the shell is secured: the improvement which comprises inner battens extending longitudinally of the shell and overlying the seams between the strakes, the inner battens being recessed into the frames, outer ller battens extending longitudinally of the shell and lying in the seams between the strakes, and bolts 'with nuts passed through the frames, the inner battens and the outer ller battens to secure the battens together .and to the frames and locking the shell strakes in place at the seams.

2. A plywood-shell life boat constructed according to claim l and provided with screws passed through the shell strakes into the inner battens at intervals along the battens.

3. A plywood-shell life boat constructed ac cording to claim 1 and provided with screws passed through the outer battens into the inner battens.

4. A plywood-shell life boat constructed according to claim 1 and provided with screws passed through the shell strakes into the inner battens at intervals along the battens and provided further with screws passed through the outer battens into the inner battens.

5. A plywood-shell life boat constructed according to claim 1 in which the longitudinal strakes are beveled Iand the filler battens are correspondingly bevelled. v

6. In a plywood life boat wherein is provide frames and a shell; the improvement wherein the longitudinal edges of the strakes are bevelled, longitudinally disposed into battens against which the strakes lie with their bevelled edges separated, ller battens shaped to fit the bevelled edges of the strakes and lock the same to the inner battens, and means securing the inner and outer battens together and to the frames.

LUDWIG S. BAIER. 

